This page is dedicated to all the brave firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. It is also dedicated to the brave firefighters who have turned out in force to help rescue the vicitims of the September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks. Thank you for all you have done and all you do everyday.

Fireman's Prayer

When I am called to duty God
where ever flames may rage
give me strength to save a life
what ever be its age.

Help me to embrace a little child
before it is too late
or save an older person
from the horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert
to hear the weakest shout
and quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling
and to give the best in me
to guard my neighbor
and protect his property.

And if according to your will
I have to lose my life
bless with your protecting hand
my loving family from strife.

The Creation of the Firefighter

When the Lord was creating Firefighters, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an Angel appeared and said " Your doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And the Lord said " Have you read the specification on this person?"

"Firefighters have to be able to go for hours fighting fires or tending to a person that the usual every day person would never touch, while putting in the back of their mind the circumstances. They have to be able to move at a second's notice and not think twice of what they are about to do, no matter the danger. They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on half eaten meals, and they must have six pairs of hands."

The Angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands... No way!"

" Its not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord, "its the three pairs of eyes a Firefighter has to have."

"That's on the standard model?" asked the Angel.

The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through the fire and where they and their fellow Firefighters should fight the fire next. Another pair here in the side of the head to see their fellow Firefighters and keep them safe. Another pair of eyes in the front so that they can look for the victims caught in the fire that need their help."

"Lord" said the Angel, touching his sleeve, "Rest and work on this tomorrow."

"I can't, said the Lord, "I already have a model that can carry a 250 pound man down a flight of stairs and to safety from a burning building, and can feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck."

The Angel circled the model of the Firefighter very slowly, "Can it think?"

"You bet," said the Lord. It can tell you the elements of a hundred fires, and can recite procedures in their sleep that are needed to care for a person until they reach the hospital. And all the while they have to keep their wits about themselves. This Firefighter also has phenomenal personal control. They can deal with a scene full of pain and hurt, coaxing a child's mother into letting go of a child so that they can care for the child in need. And still they rarely get the recognition for a job well done from anybody, other then from fellow firefighters."

Finally, the Angel bent over and ran her fingers across the cheek of the Firefighter, "There's a leak," she pronounced. "Lord, its a tear."
"What's the tear for?" asked the Angel.

"Its a tear from bottled up emotions for fallen comrades. A tear for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American Flag. Its a tear for all the pain and suffering they have encountered. And its a tear for their commitment to caring for and saving lives of their fellow man!"